Protecting systems for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A protecting system for a vehicle includes a tilt-detecting module capable of detecting a tilt condition of the vehicle, an airbag capable of being inflated and expanding to cover an outer surface of the vehicle if the airbag is inflated; and an inflation module capable of generating a gas to inflate the airbag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to protecting systems ofvehicles, and more particularly, to a protecting system having an airbagcapable of extending out of a surface of a vehicle when being inflated.

Airbags work with inflators and sensors applied as protecting devicesmay generally be used inside cars and may be capable of providinganother level of protection to passengers of the cars in some caraccidents. Also, some examples of the prior art to provide airbags onmotorcycles are illustrated in some related U.S. patents such as U.S.Pat. No. 6,848,709 to Nagatsuyu, U.S. Pat. No. 7,029,029 to Yamazaki et.al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,287 to Miyata, etc. The related U.S.patents disclose airbags designed to prevent serious injury by keepingriders' heads, chests or genitals from directly impacting steeringwheels, dashboards, fuel tanks, or windshields of the motorcycles whenthe motorcycles are hit at front in motorcycle accidents. However,except being hit at front in a motorcycle accident, there may still beother kinds of reasons which may cause a motorcycle to be turned over orlie on a side of the motorcycle after hitting a ground, such as themotorcycle may be pushed or hit while being parked in a parking lot, ona road or at a parking space, or a tire of the motorcycle may suddenlylose its friction to the ground when advancing on a road and cause themotorcycle to slide down or be turned over. In addition to a rider ofthe motorcycle may be scraped, slashed or weighed by the motorcycle asthe motorcycle's turning over, a damage of the motorcycle caused byturning over and hitting the ground may cost a lot of money forrepairing the motorcycle. Furthermore, most of the airbags consistentwith examples of the prior art may only be designed to be extended andprotect the passengers when the sensors detect changes in velocities ofthe vehicle, or intensities of impacting forces caused by the accidents.It may be desirable to have a protecting system for a motorcycle capableof detecting the tilting of the motorcycle and inflating an airbag toprotect the motorcycle or reduce the damage if the motorcycle is goingto be turned over, hit the ground, or lie on a side, or to prevent arider of the motorcycle from being weighed directly or scraped by themotorcycle or reduce the injury.

Moreover, to prevent a damage of the motorcycle caused by turning overor lying on a side, some examples of the prior art may provide aprotruding material such as a frame slider or a prop attached at themotorcycle. When the motorcycle is turned over, the frame slider or theprop may touch the ground before the frame or other parts of themotorcycle on the side, thus may be capable of preventing or reducingdamages of the frame or the other parts of the motorcycle in some levelfrom hitting the ground directly. Moreover, the frame slider or the propof the prior art may be capable of keeping a space between themotorcycle and the ground when the motorcycle lies on the side forpreventing a rider from being weighed by the motorcycle. However, in onesituation if the protruding material (the frame slider or the prop) istoo big in size, it may not only influence an appearance of themotorcycle, but also lower down the safety of riding the motorcycle on aroad or a street with heavy traffic, especially in rush hours. Inanother situation if the protruding material such (the frame slider orthe prop) is too small, it may not be capable of providing enoughprotection to the motorcycle, furthermore, it may cause the motorcycleto be turned over again after the protruding material (the frame slideror the prop) impacts the ground. In both situations the protrudingmaterial (the frame slider or the prop) may not be capable of providingenough protection to the motorcycle or the rider. Moreover, theprotruding material (the frame slider or the prop) itself may become arisk to the rider since the rider may be weighed by the motorcycle andthe protruding material may stab or scrape the rider in a motorcycleaccident. Also, the protruding material (the frame slider or the prop)may only capable of preventing or reducing the damage of the motorcycleif the motorcycle is turned over slowly. Once riding the motorcycle in ahigher speed before sliding down or the motorcycle being hit and turnedover rapidly, the protruding material (the frame slider or the prop) maynot be capable of providing enough protection to the motorcycle or therider, and even more it may also cause the motorcycle to be turned overagain after the protruding material (the frame slider or the prop)impacts the ground. Also, since the protruding material (the frameslider or the prop) may usually keep a space between the motorcycle andthe ground once the motorcycle lies on a side, but the space may not belarge enough for the rider's legs or body, thus the rider may still gethurt because of being weighed or scraped by the motorcycle.

Therefore, it may be desirable to have a protecting system for amotorcycle capable of detecting the tilting of the motorcycle andproviding a desired protection of the motorcycle or reducing the damageof the motorcycle, or preventing a rider of the motorcycle from beingweighed directly by the motorcycle or reducing the injury of the rider,if the motorcycle is turned over while being parked or slides down whileadvancing on a road and going to be hit the ground and lie on a side ofthe motorcycle.

Moreover, a car with higher position of the center of gravity may alsobe turned over because of an accident or being driven on a road withrough or uneven road surface. In these situations, it may be desired tohave a protecting system for the car to provide an external airbag forextending out of the car and impacting the ground before the car if thecar is going to be turned over, hit the ground and lying on a side. Theexternal airbag may prevent or reduce the damage of the car and mayreduce the injury of the passenger or a person nearby the car in theaccident.

Therefore, it may be desirable to have a protecting system for a vehiclethat provides a desired protection of the vehicle or a passenger of thevehicle by providing an tilt-detecting module to control an airbag to beextended out of the vehicle if the vehicle is turned over and going tobe hit the ground and lie on a side of the vehicle, and it may becapable of preventing or reducing the damage of the vehicle and theinjury of the passenger in an accident.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Examples of the present invention may provide a protecting system for avehicle. The protecting system may comprise a tilt-detecting modulecapable of detecting a tilt condition of the vehicle, an airbag capableof expanding the volume of the airbag and extending out of an outersurface of the vehicle if the airbag is inflated, and an inflationmodule capable of generating a gas and conducting the gas into theairbag to inflate the airbag.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be setforth in part in the description which follows, and in part will beobvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of theinvention. The features and advantages of the invention will be realizedand attained by means of the elements and combinations particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction withthe appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention,there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presentlypreferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is notlimited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a protecting system for a vehicleconsistent with an example of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a protecting system consistent with anexample of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a tilt-detecting module consistent with anexample of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag and an inflation moduleconsistent with an example of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag and an inflation moduleconsistent with another example of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an operation condition of a tiltcondition measuring module and a comparing module consistent with anexample of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating the operation of the tilt conditionmeasuring module and the comparing module in FIG. 6A if the vehicle isturned over;

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an operation condition of a tiltcondition measuring module and a comparing module consistent withanother example of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating the operation of the tilt conditionmeasuring module and the comparing module in FIG. 7A if the vehicle isturned over;

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating an operation condition of a tiltcondition measuring module and a comparing module consistent with stillanother example of the present invention;

FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating the operation of the tilt conditionmeasuring module and the comparing module in FIG. 8A if the vehicle isturned over;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation condition of a tiltcondition measuring module and a comparing module consistent with yetanother example of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation condition of atilt-detecting module consistent with still another example of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a tilt-detecting module consistentwith another example of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a tilt-detecting module consistentwith still another example of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a tilt-detecting module consistentwith yet another example of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a tilt-detecting module consistentwith still another example of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a tilt-detecting module consistentwith yet another example of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a protecting system 102 for a vehicle100 consistent with an example of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 1, the protecting system 102 may comprise a tilt-detecting module104, an airbag 106, and an inflation module 108. The tilt-detectingmodule 104 may be capable of detecting a tilt condition (not shown inFIG. 1) of the vehicle 100. The airbag 106 may be capable of expandingthe volume of the airbag 106 and extending out of an outer surface 110of the vehicle 100 if the airbag 106 is inflated. The inflation module108 may be capable of generating a gas (not shown in FIG. 1) andconducting the gas into the airbag 106 to inflate the airbag 106.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the protecting system 102 consistentwith an example of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, theprotecting system 102 may comprise the tilt-detecting module 104, theairbag 106, and the inflation module 108. The tilt-detecting module 104may be capable of generating an inflation signal 202, and the inflationmodule 108 may be capable of inflating the airbag 106 if the inflationmodule 108 receives the inflation signal 202.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the tilt-detecting module 102 consistentwith an example of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, thetilt-detecting module 102 may comprise a tilt condition measuring module306 and a comparing module 304. The tilt condition measuring module 306may be capable of measuring the tilt condition 310 of the vehicle 100respected to a ground 112 to generate a tilt condition measuring result308. The comparing module 304 may be capable of receiving the tiltcondition measuring result 308, comparing the tilt condition measuringresult 308 and a tilting limitation (not shown in FIG. 3), andgenerating the inflation signal 202 if the tilt condition measuringresult 308 achieves or exceeds the tilting limitation.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag 106 and the inflationmodule 108 consistent with an example of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 4, the inflation module may comprise a first switchingmodule 402. The first switching module 402 may be capable of connectingto the airbag 106 or separating from the airbag 106, thus the firstswitching module 402 may be capable of connecting the airbag 106 to thefirst switching module 402 to connect the airbag 106 to the inflationmodule 108 or separating the airbag 106 from the first switching module402 to separate the airbag 106 from the inflation module 108. Moreover,the first switching module 402 may be used if for a reason, the airbag106 may need to be replaced by another airbag.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag 106 and the inflationmodule 108 consistent with another example of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 5, the protecting system 102 may further comprise asecond switching module 502. The second switching module 502 may becapable of connecting to the airbag 106, the inflation module 108 andthe vehicle 100, or separating the airbag 106 and the inflation module108 from the vehicle 100. Moreover, the second switching module 502 maybe used if for a reason, the airbag 106 or the inflation module 108 mayneed to be replaced by another airbag or another inflation module. Inone example, the protecting system 102 may further comprise a thirdswitching module 504. The third switching module 504 may be capable ofconnecting the airbag 106 to the inflation module 108 or separating theairbag 106 from the inflation module 108, and the third switching module504 may be used if for a reason, the airbag 106 may need to be replacedby another airbag.

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an operation condition of the tiltcondition measuring module 306 and the comparing module 304 consistentwith an example of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a diagramillustrating the operation of the tilt condition measuring module 306and the comparing module 304 in FIG. 6A if the vehicle 100 is turnedover. Referring to FIG. 6A, the tilt condition measuring result 308(shown in FIG. 3) may comprise an included angle A2 formed between across-section plane P1 of the vehicle 100 and the ground 112 andmeasured by the tilt condition measuring module 308, the tiltinglimitation may comprise a minimum included angle A1, and the comparingmodule 304 may compare the included angle A2 and the minimum includedangle A1 and generate the inflation signal 202 if the included angle A2is smaller than or equal to the minimum included angle A1. As shown inFIG. 6B, the inflation module 108 may receive the inflation signal 202,generate a gas and conduct the gas into the airbag 106 to inflate theairbag 106. As being inflated, the airbag 106 may be extended out of theouter surface 110 and touch the ground 112 before the vehicle 100, thusmay prevent or reduce the damage of the vehicle 100 from hitting theground 112 directly.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an operation condition of the tiltcondition measuring module 306 and the comparing module 304 consistentwith an example of the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a diagramillustrating the operation of the tilt condition measuring module 306and the comparing module 304 in FIG. 7A if the vehicle 100 is turnedover. Referring to FIG. 7A, the tilt condition measuring result 308(shown in FIG. 3) may comprise an included angle A4 formed between atangent plane P2 passed through a point 802 on the outer surface 110 ofthe vehicle 100 and the ground 112 and measured by the tilt conditionmeasuring module 308, the tilting limitation may comprise a minimumincluded angle A3, and the comparing module 304 may compare the includedangle A4 and the minimum included angle A3 and generate the inflationsignal 202 if the included angle A4 is smaller than or equal to theminimum included angle A3. As shown in FIG. 7B, the inflation module 108may receive the inflation signal 202, generate a gas and conduct the gasinto the airbag 106 to inflate the airbag 106. As being inflated, theairbag 106 may be extended out of the outer surface 110 and touch theground 112 before the vehicle 100, thus may prevent or reduce the damageof the vehicle 100 from hitting the ground 112 directly.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating an operation condition of the tiltcondition measuring module 306 and the comparing module 304 consistentwith still another example of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is adiagram illustrating the operation of the tilt condition measuringmodule 306 and the comparing module 304 in FIG. 8A if the vehicle 100 isturned over. Referring to FIG. 8A, the tilt condition measuring result308 (shown in FIG. 3) may comprise a distance HI between a point 1002 onthe outer surface 110 of the vehicle 100 and the ground 112 and measuredby the tilt condition measuring module 306, the tilting limitation maycomprise a minimum distance H2, and the comparing module 304 may comparethe distance H1 and the minimum distance H2 and generate the inflationsignal 202 if the distance H1 is smaller than or equal to the minimumdistance H2. As shown in FIG. 8B, the inflation module 108 may receivethe inflation signal 202, generate a gas and conduct the gas into theairbag 106 to inflate the airbag 106. As being inflated, the airbag 106may be extended out of the outer surface 110 and touch the ground 112before the vehicle 100, thus may prevent or reduce the damage of thevehicle 100 from hitting the ground 112 directly.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation condition of the tiltcondition measuring module 306 and the comparing module 304 consistentwith yet another example of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 9,the tilt condition measuring module 306 may comprise an emitting moduleT1, a receiving module R1 and an intensity measuring module (not shownin FIG. 9). The emitting module T1 may be capable of emitting anelectromagnetic wave w1 to the ground 112, and the electromagnetic wavew1 may be reflected by the ground 112 to form a reflectedelectromagnetic wave w2. The receiving module R1 may be capable ofreceiving the reflected electromagnetic wave w2, and the intensitymeasuring module may be capable of measuring an intensity (not shown inFIG. 9) of the reflected electromagnetic wave w2. The tilting limitationmay comprise a maximum intensity (not shown in FIG. 9), and thecomparing module 304 may compare the intensity and the maximum intensityand generate the inflation signal 202 if the intensity is stronger thanor equal to the maximum intensity.

In one example, the protecting system may further comprise a settingmodule (not shown). The setting module may be capable of setting thetilting limitation.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the tiltcondition measuring modules and the comparing modules consistent withthe examples illustrated above may also be capable of forming anothertilt-detecting module by combining at least two kinds of the tiltcondition measuring modules and the comparing modules for generating theinflation signal 202 if the tilt condition achieves or exceeds thetilting limitation.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation condition of thetilt-detecting module 104 consistent with still another example of thepresent invention. Referring to FIG. 10, the tilt-detecting module 104may comprise a signal-transmitting module Tx, a signal-receiving moduleRx and a comparing module (not shown in FIG. 10). Thesignal-transmitting module Tx may be formed at the vehicle 100 andcapable of generating a first digital signal (not shown in FIG. 10) andprocessing the first digital signal to generate an emitting signal s1and emitting the emitting signal s1 to the ground 112. The emittingsignal s1 may be reflected by the ground 112 to generate a reflectedsignal s2. The signal-receiving module Rx may be formed at the vehicle100. The signal-receiving module Rx may be capable of receiving thereflected signal s2 and processing the reflecting signal s2 to generatea second digital signal (not shown in FIG. 10). The comparing module maybe capable of comparing the first digital signal and the second digitalsignal and generating the inflation signal 202 to the inflation module108 to make the inflation module 108 inflate the airbag 106 if adifference (not shown) between the first digital signal and the seconddigital signal is smaller than or equal to a minimum comparingdifference (not shown). In one example, the emitting signal s1 may be aradio frequency (RF) signal and the signal-receiving module Rx maycomprise a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) module capable ofmaking radio frequency identification. In another example, thesignal-transmitting module Tx may be capable of processing the firstdigital signal by an encoding process to make the emitting signal s1 beunique to the vehicle 100, and the emitting signal s1 of the vehicle 100may not be capable of being identified by another signal-receivingmodule formed at another vehicle to make a comparing module of thevehicle to generate an inflation signal. Moreover, in another example,the signal-receiving module Rx may be capable of processing thereflected signal s2 by a decoding process respected to the encodingprocess to generate the second digital signal.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the tilt-detecting module 104consistent with another example of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 11, the tilt-detecting module 104 may comprise a container 1402, aliquid material 1404, a base 1408, an electrode 1410 and aninflation-signal generating module 1412. The container 1402 may behollow and comprise an interior wall 1414 formed by a material havingthe electric conductivity. The interior wall 1414 may form a cavity (notnumbered) in the container 1402. The liquid material 1404 may have theelectric conductivity and exist in the cavity to flow accordingly to thetilt condition of the vehicle 100. The liquid material 1404 may occupyonly a part of the cavity to keep a space 1406 not being occupied by theliquid material 1404 in the cavity. The position of the space 1406 maybe changed accordingly to the liquid material 1404 as the liquidmaterial 1404 flows accordingly to the tilt condition of the vehicle100. The base 1408 may comprises an isolating material and be formed ata position (not numbered) on the interior wall 1414, wherein a part (notnumbered) of the base 1408 may be electrically isolated from theinterior wall 1414. The base 1408 may exist in the space 1406 if thetilt condition does not achieve or exceed a tilting limitation. Theelectrode 1410 may be formed at the part of the base 1408 andelectrically isolated from the interior wall 1414, the electrode 1410may exist in the space 1406 if the tilt condition does not achieve orexceed the tilting limitation. The inflation-signal generating module1412 may be electrically coupled to the interior wall 1414 and theelectrode 1410 separately. The inflation-signal generating module 1412may be capable of generating the inflation signal 202 to the inflationmodule 108 to make the inflation module 108 inflate the airbag 106 ifthe tilt condition achieves or exceeds the tilting limitation to makethe liquid material 1404 touch the electrode 1410 and form a current(not shown in FIG. 11) to flow through the interior wall 1414 and theelectrode 1410. It will be appreciated by those skilled that theposition of the inflation-signal generating module 1412 may also becapable of being formed inside the container 1402, thus the position ofthe inflation-signal generating module 1412 is not limited to thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the tilt-detecting module 104consistent with still another example of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 12, the tilt-detecting module 104 may comprise acontainer 1402, a liquid material 1404, a first electrode 1502, a secondelectrode 1504 and an inflation-signal generating module 1412. Thecontainer 1402 may be hollow and comprises an interior wall 1414. Theinterior wall 1414 may be electrically isolating and may form a cavity(not numbered) in the container 1402. The liquid material 1404 may havethe electric conductivity and exist in the cavity to flow accordingly tothe tilt condition of the vehicle 100. The liquid material 1404 mayoccupy only a part of the cavity to keep a space 1406 not to be occupiedby the liquid material 1404 in the cavity. The position of the space1406 may be changed accordingly to the liquid material 1404 as theliquid material 1404 flows accordingly to the tilt condition. The firstelectrode 1502 may be formed at a first position (not numbered) on theinterior wall 1414, and the second electrode 1504 may be formed at asecond position (not numbered) on the interior wall 1414 other than thefirst position on the interior wall 1414. Moreover, at least one of thefirst electrode 1502 and the second electrode 1504 may exist in thespace 1406 if the tilt condition does not achieve or exceed a tiltinglimitation. In this example, the first electrode 1502 is in the space1406. The inflation-signal generating module 1412 may be electricallycoupled to the first electrode 1502 and the second electrode 1504separately. The inflation-signal generating module 1412 may be capableof generating the inflation signal 202 to the inflation module 108 tomake the inflation module 108 inflate the airbag 106 if the tiltcondition achieves or exceeds the tilting limitation to make the liquidmaterial 1404 touch the first electrode 1502 and the second electrode1504 at the same time to form a current (not shown in FIG. 12) to flowthrough the first electrode 1502 and the second electrode 1504. It willbe appreciated by those skilled that the position of theinflation-signal generating module 1412 may also be capable of beingformed inside the container 1402, thus the position of theinflation-signal generating module 1412 is not limited to the presentinvention.

In another example (not shown in the drawings), the tilt-detectingmodule 104 may comprise a container being hollow and comprising aninterior wall formed by a material having the electric conductivity. Theinterior wall may form a cavity in the container. The liquid materialmay have the electric conductivity and exist in the cavity to flowaccordingly to the tilt condition of the vehicle. The liquid materialmay occupy only a part of the cavity to keep a space not being occupiedby the liquid material in the cavity. The position of the space may bechanged accordingly to the liquid material as the liquid material flowsaccordingly to the tilt condition of the vehicle. The base may comprisesan isolating material and be formed at a position on the interior wall.A part of the base may be electrically isolated from the interior wall.The base may exist in the liquid material if the tilt condition does notachieve or exceed a tilting limitation. The electrode may be formed onthe part of the base and electrically isolated from the interior wall.The electrode may exist in the liquid material if the tilt conditiondoes not achieve or exceed the tilting limitation. The inflation-signalgenerating module may be electrically coupled to the interior wall andthe electrode separately. The inflation-signal generating module may becapable of generating a current to flow through the interior wall andthe electrode if the tilt condition does not achieve or exceed thetilting limitation, and the inflation-signal generating module may becapable of generating the inflation signal 202 to the inflation module108 to make the inflation module 108 inflate the airbag 106 if the tiltcondition achieves or exceeds the tilting limitation to make the liquidmaterial separated from the electrode to stop the current.

In yet another example (not shown in the drawings), the tilt-detectingmodule may comprise a container, a liquid material, a first electrode, asecond electrode and an inflation-signal generating module. Thecontainer may be hollow and comprise an interior wall. The interior wallmay be electrically isolating and form a cavity in the container. Theliquid material may have the electric conductivity and exist in thecavity to flow accordingly to the tilt condition of the vehicle. Theliquid material may occupy only a part of the cavity to keep a space notbeing occupied by the liquid material in the cavity. The position of thespace may be changed accordingly to the liquid material as the liquidmaterial flows accordingly to the tilt condition. The first electrodemay be formed at a first position on the interior wall. The secondelectrode may be formed at a second position on the interior wall otherthan the first position on the interior wall. the liquid materialtouches the first electrode and the second electrode if the tiltcondition does not achieve or exceed a tilting limitation. Theinflation-signal generating module may be electrically coupled to thefirst electrode and the second electrode separately. Theinflation-signal generating module may be capable of generating acurrent to flow through the first electrode and the second electrode ifthe tilt condition does not achieve or exceed the tilting limitation.The inflation-signal generating module may be capable of generating theinflation signal 202 to the inflation module 108 to make the inflationmodule 108 inflate the airbag 106 if the tilt condition achieves orexceeds the tilting limitation to make the liquid material separatedfrom the first electrode or the second electrode to stop the current.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the tilt-detecting module 104consistent with yet another example of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 13, the tilt-detecting module 104 may comprise a tube 1608, amaterial 1606, a first electrode 1602 and a second electrode 1604 and aninflation-signal generating module 1412. The tube 1608 may be hollow andformed by an electrically isolating material. The tube 1608 may comprisea first end 1610 and a second end 1612. The material 1606 may have theelectric conductivity and formed in the tube 1608 to move in the tube1608 accordingly to the tilt condition of the vehicle 100. The material1606 may occupy only a part of the space in the tube 1608. Both of thefirst electrode 1602 and the second electrode 1604 may be formed at oneor both of the first end 1610 and the second end 1612 of the tube 1608.In this example, the first electrode 1602 and the second electrode 1604are formed at the second end 1612 of the tube 1608. Both of the firstelectrode 1602 and the second electrode 1604 may not be touched by thematerial 1606 if the tilt condition does not achieve or exceed a tiltinglimitation. The inflation-signal generating module 1412 may beelectrically coupled to the first electrode 1602 and the secondelectrode 1604 separately. The inflation-signal generating module 1412may be capable of generating the inflation signal 202 to the inflationmodule 108 to make the inflation module 108 inflate the airbag 106 ifthe tilt condition achieves or exceeds the tilting limitation to makethe material 1606 touch the first electrode 1602 and the secondelectrode 1604 at the same time to generate a current (not shown) toflow through the first electrode 1602 and the second electrode 1604. Itwill be appreciated by those skilled that the position of theinflation-signal generating module 1412 may also be capable of beingformed inside the tube 1608, thus the position of the inflation-signalgenerating module 1412 is not limited to the present invention.

In still another example (not shown in the drawings), since the vehicle100 may comprise a first wheel and a second wheel, and the first wheelmay comprise a first tire and the second wheel may comprise a secondtire, the tilt-detecting module 104 may comprise a first tire-pressuregauge, a second tire-pressure gauge, and an inflation-signal generatingmodule. The first tire-pressure gauge may be capable of detecting avariation of the tire pressure in the first tire and generating a firsttire-pressure variation value. The second tire-pressure gauge may becapable of detecting a variation of the tire-pressure in the second tireand generating a second tire-pressure variation value. Theinflation-signal generating module may be capable of generating theinflation signal 202 to the inflation module 108 to make the inflationmodule 108 inflate the airbag 106 if the first tire-pressure variationvalue achieves or exceeds a first tire-pressure setting value and thesecond tire-pressure variation value achieves or exceeds a secondtire-pressure setting value, since once the vehicle 100 is turned over,the tire pressures of the first tire and the second tire of the vehiclemay vary because of leaving the ground 112.

In yet another example (not shown in the drawings), the tilt-detectingmodule 104 may comprise a sensor formed on a protruding part of thevehicle 100. The tilt-detecting module 104 may be capable of generatingthe inflation signal 202 to the inflation module 108 to make theinflation module 108 inflate the airbag 106 if the protruding moduletouch the ground 112. The protruding part of the vehicle 100 maycomprise a frame slider, a prop, a steering handle, a reversing mirror,a bulge at the outer surface 110 or a footrest such that if the vehicle100 is turned over, the protruding part may be the first part of thevehicle 100 to touch the ground 112.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the tilt-detecting module 104consistent with still another example of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 14, the tilt-detecting module 104 may comprise a firstcontainer 1702, a second container 1704, a first chemical material 1706and a second chemical material 1708. The first container 1702 maycomprise a first open end 1710. The second container 1704 may comprise asecond end 1712. The first chemical material 1706 may exist in the firstcontainer 1702 if the tilt condition does not achieve or exceed atilting limitation. The first chemical material 1706 may be capable ofmoving accordingly to the tilt condition of the vehicle 100 and may moveout of the first container 1702 through the first open end 1710 if thetilt condition achieves or exceeds the tilting limitation. The secondchemical material 1708 may exist in the second container 1704 and becapable of interacting with the first chemical material 1706 to generatethe gas (not shown in FIG. 14). The gas may be capable of spurting outof the second container 1704 (through a third open end 1714) and beingconducted to inflate the airbag 106. Moreover the first chemicalmaterial 1706 and the second chemical material 1708 may be separatedfrom each other if the tilt condition does not achieve or exceed thetilting limitation, and the first chemical material 1706 and the secondchemical material 1708 may be capable of interacting with each other ifthe tilt condition achieves or exceeds the tilting limitation to makethe first chemical material 1706 move out of the first container 1702through the first open end 1710 and into the second container 1704through the second open end 1712 to interact with the second material1708. In another example, the tilt-detecting module 104 may furthercomprise a third container (not shown). The first chemical material 1706and second chemical material 1708 may be capable of moving into thethird container to generate the gas if the tilt condition achieves orexceeds the tilting limitation.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the tilt-detecting module 104consistent with yet another example of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 15, the tilt-detecting module 104 may comprise a container 1800,a first chemical material 1806, and a second chemical material 1808. Thecontainer 1800 may comprise a first part 1802 and a second part 1804.The first chemical material 1806 may exist in the first part 1802 of thecontainer 1800 if the tilt condition does not achieve or exceed atilting limitation. The first chemical material 1806 may be capable ofmoving accordingly to the tilt condition of the vehicle 100 and movinginto the second part 1804 of the container 1800 if the tilt conditionachieves or exceeds the tilting limitation. The second chemical material1808 may exist in the second part 1804 of the container 1800 and becapable of interacting with the first chemical material 1806 to generatethe gas (not shown in FIG. 15) to inflate the airbag 106, The firstchemical material 1806 and the second chemical material 1808 may beseparated from each other if the tilt condition does not achieve orexceed the tilting limitation, and the first chemical material 1806 andthe second chemical material 1808 may be capable of interacting witheach other if the tilt condition achieves or exceeds the tiltinglimitation to make the first chemical material 1806 move into the secondpart 1804 of the container 1800 to interact with the second material1808. In one example, the first part 1802 and the second part 1804 maybe separated.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that thetilt-detecting modules consistent with the examples illustrated abovemay also be capable of forming another tilt-detecting module bycombining at least two kinds of the tilt-detecting modules forgenerating the inflation signal 202.

In another example, the tilt-detecting module 104 may be formed at thevehicle 100 or a remote place other than the vehicle 100.

In yet another example, the tilt-detecting module 104 may be formed at aremote place other than the vehicle 100 and the inflation signal 202 maybe transferred to the inflation module 108 through a wirelesscommunication way.

In one example, the protecting system 102 may further comprise a firstswitch (not shown in the drawings), wherein the airbag 106 may notcapable of expanding the volume of the airbag 106 and extend out of theouter surface 110 of the vehicle 100 if the first switch is turned off.

In another example, the protecting system 102 may further comprise asecond switch (not shown in the drawings). The inflation module 108 mayinflate the airbag 106 directly to make the airbag 106 expand the volumeof the airbag 106 and extend out of the surface 110 of the vehicle 100if the second switch is turned on.

In other example, the vehicle 102 may comprise a car or a motorcycle.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but itis intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

Further, in describing representative embodiments of the presentinvention, the specification may have presented the method and/orprocess of the present invention as a particular sequence of steps.However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on theparticular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process shouldnot be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one ofordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps maybe possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth inthe specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims.In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process of thepresent invention should not be limited to the performance of theirsteps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readilyappreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within thespirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A protecting system for a vehicle, the protecting system comprising:a tilt-detecting module capable of detecting a tilt condition of thevehicle; an airbag capable of being inflated and expanding to cover anouter surface of the vehicle if the airbag is inflated; and an inflationmodule capable of generating a gas to inflate the airbag.
 2. Theprotecting system of claim 1, wherein the tilt-detecting modulecomprises: a tilt condition measuring module capable of measuring thetilt condition of the vehicle respected to a ground to generate a tiltcondition measuring result; and a comparing module capable of comparingthe tilt condition measuring result and a tilting limitation, andgenerating an inflation signal to the inflation module to make theinflation module inflate the airbag if the tilt condition measuringresult achieves or exceeds the tilting limitation.
 3. The protectingsystem of claim 1, wherein the inflation module comprises: a firstswitching module capable of connecting to the airbag or separating fromthe airbag, the first switching module being capable of connecting theairbag to the first switching module to connect the airbag to theinflation module or separating the airbag from the first switchingmodule to separate the airbag from the inflation module.
 4. Theprotecting system of claim 1, further comprises: a second switchingmodule capable of connecting to the airbag, the inflation module and thevehicle, or separating the airbag and the inflation module from thevehicle.
 5. The protecting system of claim 2, wherein the tilt conditionmeasuring result comprises an included angle formed between across-section plane of the vehicle and the ground and measured by thetilt condition measuring module, wherein the tilting limitationcomprises a minimum included angle, and the comparing module comparesthe included angle and the minimum included angle and generates theinflation signal if the included angle is smaller than or equal to theminimum included angle.
 6. The protecting system of claim 2, wherein thetilt condition measuring result comprises an included angle formedbetween a tangent plane passing through a point on an outer surface ofthe vehicle and the ground and measured by the tilt condition measuringmodule, wherein the tilting limitation comprises a minimum includedangle, and the comparing module compares the included angle and theminimum included angle and generates the inflation signal if theincluded angle is smaller than or equal to the minimum included angle.7. The protecting system of claim 2, wherein the tilt conditionmeasuring result comprises a distance between a point on an outersurface of the vehicle and the ground and measured by the tilt conditionmeasuring module, wherein the tilting limitation comprises a minimumdistance, and the comparing module compares the distance and the minimumdistance and generates the inflation signal if the distance is smallerthan or equal to the minimum distance.
 8. The protecting system of claim2, wherein the tilt condition measuring module comprises: an emittingmodule capable of emitting an electro-magnetic wave to the ground,wherein the electro-magnetic wave being reflected by the ground to forma reflected electro-magnetic wave; a receiving module capable ofreceiving the reflected electro-magnetic wave; and an intensitymeasuring module capable of measuring the intensity of the reflectedelectro-magnetic wave, wherein the tilting limitation comprises amaximum intensity limitation, and the comparing module compares theintensity of the reflected electro-magnetic wave and the maximumintensity limitation and generates the inflation signal if the intensityof the reflected electro-magnetic wave is stronger than or equal to themaximum intensity limitation.
 9. The protecting system of claim 2,further comprises a setting module capable of setting the tiltinglimitation.
 10. The protecting system of claim 1, wherein thetilt-detecting module is formed, disposed or attached at the vehicle ora remote place other than the vehicle.
 11. The protecting system ofclaim 2, wherein the tilt-detecting module is formed, disposed orattached at a remote place other than the vehicle and the inflationsignal is transferred to the inflation module through a wirelesscommunication.
 12. The protecting system of claim 1, further comprises afirst switch, wherein the airbag is not capable of being inflated if thefirst switch is turned off.
 13. The protecting system of claim 1,further comprises a second switch, wherein the inflation module inflatesthe airbag if the second switch is turned on.
 14. The protecting systemof claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a car, a motorcycle or a bicycle. 15.The protecting system of claim 1, wherein the tilt-detecting modulecomprises: a signal-transmitting module formed, disposed or attached atthe vehicle and capable of generating a first digital signal, processingthe first digital signal to generate an emitting signal and emitting theemitting signal to a ground, wherein the emitting signal being reflectedby the ground to generate a reflected signal; a signal-receiving moduleformed, disposed or attached at the motorcycle, the signal-receivingmodule being capable of receiving the reflected signal and processingthe reflected signal to generate a second digital signal; and acomparing module capable of comparing the first digital signal and thesecond digital signal and generating an inflation signal to theinflation module to make the inflation module inflate the airbag if adifference between the first digital signal and the second digitalsignal is smaller than or equal to a minimum comparing difference. 16.The protecting system of claim 15, wherein the emitting signal comprisea radio frequency (RF) signal and the signal-receiving module comprisesa Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) module capable of making radiofrequency identification.
 17. The protecting system of claim 1, whereinthe tilt-detecting module comprises: a container being hollow andcomprising an interior wall formed by a material having electricconductivity, wherein the interior wall forms a cavity in the container;a liquid material having electric conductivity and existing in thecavity to flow according to the tilt condition of the vehicle, theliquid material occupying only a part of the cavity to keep a space notbeing occupied by the liquid material in the cavity, wherein a positionof the space in the cavity is changed accordingly to the liquid materialas the liquid material flows accordingly to the tilt condition of thevehicle; a base comprising an insulating material and formed, disposedor attached at a position on the interior wall, wherein a part of thebase is electrically insulated from the interior wall and the baseexists in the space if the tilt condition does not achieve or exceed atilting limitation; an electrode formed, disposed or attached at thepart of the base and electrically insulated from the interior wall, theelectrode existing in the space if the tilt condition does not achieveor exceed the tilting limitation; and an inflation-signal generatingmodule electrically coupled to the interior wall and the electrodeseparately, the inflation-signal generating module being capable ofgenerating an inflation signal to the inflation module to make theinflation module inflate the airbag if the tilt condition achieves orexceeds the tilting limitation to make the liquid material touch theelectrode and generate a current to flow through the interior wall andthe electrode.
 18. The protecting system of claim 1, wherein thetilt-detecting module comprises: a container being hollow and comprisingan interior wall, wherein the interior wall is electrically insulatingand forms a cavity in the container; a liquid material having electricconductivity and existing in the cavity to flow accordingly to the tiltcondition of the vehicle, the liquid material occupying only a part ofthe cavity to keep a space not being occupied by the liquid material inthe cavity, wherein a position of the space being changed accordingly tothe liquid material as the liquid material flows accordingly to the tiltcondition; a first electrode formed, disposed or attached at a firstposition on the interior wall; a second electrode formed, disposed orattached at a second position on the interior wall other than the firstposition on the interior wall, wherein at least one of the firstelectrode and the second electrode exists in the space if the tiltcondition does not achieve or exceed a tilting limitation; and aninflation-signal generating module electrically coupled to the firstelectrode and the second electrode separately, the inflation-signalgenerating module being capable of generating an inflation signal to theinflation module to make the inflation module inflate the airbag if thetilt condition achieves or exceeds the tilting limitation to make theliquid material touch the first electrode and the second electrode atthe same time to generate a current to flow through the first electrodeand the second electrode.
 19. The protecting system of claim 1, whereinthe tilt-detecting module comprises: a container being hollow andcomprising an interior wall formed by a material having electricconductivity, wherein the interior wall formsing a cavity in thecontainer; a liquid material having electric conductivity and existingin the cavity to flow accordingly to the tilt condition of the vehicle,the liquid material occupying only a part of the cavity to keep a spacenot being occupied by the liquid material in the cavity, wherein aposition of the space being changed accordingly to the liquid materialas the liquid material flows accordingly to the tilt condition of thevehicle; a base comprising an insulating material and formed, disposedor attached at a position on the interior wall, wherein a part of thebase is electrically insulated from the interior wall, the base existingin the liquid material if the tilt condition does not achieve or exceeda tilting limitation; an electrode formed, disposed or attached on thepart of the base and electrically insulated from the interior wall, theelectrode existing in the liquid material if the tilt condition does notachieve or exceed the tilting limitation; and an inflation-signalgenerating module electrically coupled to the interior wall and theelectrode separately, the inflation-signal generating module beingcapable of generating a current to flow through the interior wall andthe electrode if the tilt condition does not achieve or exceed thetilting limitation, and the inflation-signal generating module beingcapable of generating an inflation signal to the inflation module tomake the inflation module inflate the airbag if the tilt conditionachieves or exceeds the tilting limitation to make the liquid materialbe separated from the electrode to stop the current.
 20. The protectingsystem of claim 1, wherein the tilt-detecting module comprises: acontainer being hollow and comprising an interior wall, wherein theinterior wall is electrically insulating and forms a cavity in thecontainer; a liquid material having the electric conductivity andexisting in the cavity to flow accordingly to the tilt condition of thevehicle, the liquid material occupying only a part of the cavity to keepa space not being occupied by the liquid material in the cavity, whereina position of the space being changed accordingly to the liquid materialas the liquid material flows accordingly to the tilt condition; a firstelectrode formed, disposed or attached at a first position on theinterior wall; a second electrode formed, disposed or attached at asecond position on the interior wall other than the first position onthe interior wall, wherein the liquid material touches the firstelectrode and the second electrode at the same time if the tiltcondition does not achieve or exceed a tilting limitation; and aninflation-signal generating module electrically coupled to the firstelectrode and the second electrode separately, the inflation-signalgenerating module being capable of generating a current to flow throughthe first electrode and the second electrode if the tilt condition doesnot achieve or exceed the tilting limitation, and the inflation-signalgenerating module being capable of generating an inflation signal to theinflation module to make the inflation module inflate the airbag if thetilt condition achieves or exceeds the tilting limitation to make theliquid material separated from the first electrode or the secondelectrode to stop the current.
 21. The protecting system of claim 1,wherein the tilt-detecting module comprises: a tube being hollow andformed by an electrically isolating material, the tube comprising afirst end and a second end; a material having electric conductivity anddisposed in the tube to move in the tube accordingly to the tiltcondition of the vehicle, the material occupying only a part of thespace in the tube; a first electrode and a second electrode, whereinboth of the first electrode and the second electrode are formed ordisposed at one or both of the first end and the second end of the tube,wherein the both of the first electrode and the second electrode beingtouched by the material at the same time if the tilt condition achievesor exceeds a tilting limitation; and an inflation-signal generatingmodule electrically coupled to the first electrode and the secondelectrode separately, the inflation-signal generating module beingcapable of generating an inflation signal to the inflation module tomake the inflation module inflate the airbag if the tilt conditionachieves or exceeds the tilting limitation to make the material touchthe first electrode and the second electrode at the same time togenerate a current to flow through the first electrode and the secondelectrode.
 22. The protecting system of claim 1, wherein the vehiclecomprises a first wheel and a second wheel, the first wheel comprises afirst tire, the second wheel comprisesing a second tire, and thetilt-detecting module comprises: a first tire-pressure gauge capable ofdetecting a first variation of the tire pressure of the first tire andgenerating a first tire-pressure variation value; a second tire-pressuregauge capable of detecting a second variation of the tire-pressure ofthe second tire and generating a second tire-pressure variation value;and an inflation-signal generating module capable of generating aninflation signal to the inflation module to make the inflation moduleinflate the airbag if the first tire-pressure variation value achievesor exceeds a first tire-pressure setting value and the secondtire-pressure variation value achieves or exceeds a second tire-pressuresetting value.
 23. The protecting system of claim 1, wherein thetilt-detecting module comprises: a sensor formed, disposed or attachedon a protruding part of the vehicle and capable of generating aninflation signal to the inflation module to make the inflation moduleinflate the airbag if the protruding module touch a ground.
 24. Theprotecting system of claim 1, wherein the tilt-detecting modulecomprises: a first container comprising a first open end; a secondcontainer comprising a second end; a first chemical material existing inthe first container if the tilt condition does not achieve or exceed atilting limitation, the first chemical material being capable of movingaccordingly to the tilt condition of the vehicle and moving out of thefirst container through the first open end if the tilt conditionachieves or exceeds the tilting limitation; a second chemical materialexisting in the second container and capable of interacting with thefirst chemical material to generate the gas to inflate the airbag,wherein the first chemical material and the second chemical material areseparated from each other if the tilt condition does not achieve orexceed the tilting limitation, and the first chemical material and thesecond chemical material are capable of interacting with each other ifthe tilt condition achieves or exceeds the tilting limitation to makethe first chemical material move out of the first container through thefirst open end and move into the second container through the secondopen end to interact with the second material.
 25. The protecting systemof claim 1, wherein the tilt-detecting module comprises: a containercomprising a first part and a second part; a first chemical materialexisting at the first part of the container if the tilt condition doesnot achieve or exceed a tilting limitation, the first chemical materialbeing capable of moving accordingly to the tilt condition of the vehicleand moving to the second part of the container if the tilt conditionachieves or exceeds the tilting limitation; and a second chemicalmaterial existing at the second part of the container and capable ofinteracting with the first chemical material to generate the gas toinflate the airbag, wherein the first chemical material and the secondchemical material are separated from each other if the tilt conditiondoes not achieve or exceed the tilting limitation, and the firstchemical material and the second chemical material are capable ofinteracting with each other if the tilt condition achieves or exceedsthe tilting limitation to make the first chemical material move into thesecond part of the container to interact with the second material.